Busan launches multilingual emergency task force to protect foreign residents
The Busan Metropolitan Government announced Thursday a sweeping cross-sector framework designed to safeguard non-Korean speakers during natural and human-made disasters, anchoring the initiative with a dedicated multilingual crisis translation force. Under an agreement signed at Busan City Hall, local authorities joined forces with regional emergency services, humanitarian relief agencies,…
The Busan Metropolitan Government has unveiled a comprehensive cross-sector framework aimed at protecting non-Korean speakers during both natural and human-made disasters. This initiative includes the establishment of a dedicated multilingual crisis translation force. At a recent meeting at Busan City Hall, local authorities collaborated with regional emergency services, humanitarian relief organizations, academic researchers, and foreign resident support networks to create this new coalition.
The cornerstone of this cooperative effort is the Busan Disaster Response Interpreter Corps, a 30-member specialized team that offers real-time assistance in 16 languages. These languages include English, Mandarin, Japanese, Vietnamese, and German. Busan officials revealed that this initiative is a direct response to the city's evolving demographic landscape.
As South Korea's main maritime gateway and the country's second-largest metropolis, Busan has historically served as a vibrant hub for international trade, shipping, and global tourism. Currently, the coastal city is home to over 88,000 foreign residents, with more than 2.4 million international visitors.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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